If you’re looking for a way to improve the appearance of your yard, you’ve probably thought about having certain trees removed. This can give you more usable yard space for entertaining, gardening, and outdoor activities, but you must make sure you have each stump properly ground. If you don’t, you may end up with pest problems that you didn’t have before.
Not Grinding the Stump Deep Enough
When you look at a tree stump, it may look like it only sits even with and on top of the ground. But in actuality, there is a substantial part of it that sits below the ground. You must make sure you’re removing the entire underground part of it, or the remaining wood will start to rot and attract pests. If you’re wondering how far you need to go into the ground to remove the entire stump, you’ll need to consider the size and species of the tree along with the depth of its root system.
Leaving Large Roots Behind
In addition to the part of the stump sitting above and below the ground, you must also get rid of the large roots connected to it. If you don’t, those roots will start to die and deteriorate, creating the ideal conditions for wood-destroying insects. If you let a professional handle the job, they will know exactly which roots to grind.
Allowing Wood Chips to Pile Up Around the Site
Whether it’s a big stump or a small one, the grinding process will leave behind large piles of wood chips. You must take time to clean up each pile, or they’ll just sit there, creating moist conditions that attract pests each time it rains.
Here are some unique ways to reuse wood chips:
- Spread them around trees and shrubs as mulch
- Add them to walking paths through the garden
- Use them as a base underneath raised garden beds
- Spread them over muddy areas of the yard
- Use them around outdoor play areas
Ignoring Carpenter Ants Already Living in the Stump
If a stump already has an infestation of carpenter ants, you can’t just remove the stump and expect the ant problem to go away. There’s a very good chance the ants will simply relocate to a nearby stump. And because of this, it’s a wise move to call a pest control expert to address the ant colony before you start the stump removal process. The expert can use careful inspections and specialized equipment to find the main nest along with any satellite colonies and then choose from a variety of treatment methods, like insecticidal baits or targeted sprays.
There’s so much more that goes into proper tree removal other than cutting off the branches and through the trunk. If you don’t grind the stump effectively, removing every part of it, including the part above and below the ground as well as the connected roots, you may create pest problems that weren’t there before. Letting a professional handle the project is the best way to ensure the job gets done correctly. When you need stump grinding services in Charleston, SC, contact Charleston Stump Stompers.
